MUSICIAN!
“With punk rock roots and an old folk soul, Daniel Stephen Turner takes a heart on sleeve approach to songwriting. Seeking catharsis and understanding, his music is open, honest and passionate.
Deriving influences from Post-Hardcore to Americana and firmly rooted in the rock tradition, his acoustic live performances are an essential addition to the East Anglian music scene.”
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Songwriting is my primary means of creative expression. It has seen me through some of the worst days of my life and has truly helped to define who I am as a person. I've always had the creative urge but been too scared to chase it aside from the odd project. Over the last two and a half years I have really dug into it and found a level of respect for myself that I have never had.
I picked up the guitar at the age of 16 and played in a number of bands in my early 20's. Writing the odd song but largely as part of the group rather than as an individual. I played a number of gigs as part of 'The Moth Patrol' and have some very fond memories of that time. For many years following the breakup for TMP I was in a band called 'The Monroe Connection/Die a Libertine'. Headed up by my good friend Paul we would periodically call it a day and then start up again over the next 10 years or so. Only playing a handful of gigs and largely just keeping it to the practice room. A lot of the music that came out of that band was written solely by Paul but near the end, 2018 or so, I was starting to put my two cents in and becoming more comfortable with my creativity.
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In Oct 2019 I found myself alone, depressed and struggling to keep it together. I was dating a girl at the time and I felt as though I was into it much more than she was (turns out I was right) and I ended up writing a song called 'What Can I Do?'. This was the first time in over 10 years that I had completed a song alone and at first I wasn't sure if it was any good. I sent it to a couple of friends who were both enthusiastic about it. The kick of confidence that gave me was incredible. I had done what I had been wanting to do for so long! Shortly after this the songs Lust and Intrigue and Eventually came along. I was on a roll.
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I wanted to get out and play live, but I was scared. Terrified even. I had only ever played one song as a solo artist and that had been almost 15 years prior, it had not ended well. It took me a few months of practice and working up the courage before I was able to get out to my first Open Mic on the 14th March 2020. It was great! The response was excellent and although rough around the edges I played well considering. The week after we went into lock down.....
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Initially my primary way of sharing my music was to upload it to YouTube in the form of a live performance video (me sat in my living room) and this gained a few followers. Shortly afterwards I started an Instagram to help promote what I was doing. Through this I was contacted by the producer at BBC Essex about 'Upload'. I sent over a couple of songs and ended up having a demo version of Lust and Intrigue played and being interviewed on air by Helen Scott.
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It was becoming clear to me that my mental health was going to play a large role in my music. The majority of what I had written up to this point was focused around this theme and it was where I felt comfortable, so I leant into it. I started a blog called 'MNTL HLTH' as a companion to my music. Allowing me to expand on some ideas and also just write about what was on my mind. Being open and honest is one of the most important things for me.
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I kept writing and, when the government allowed, getting out to Open Mics. Building my confidence the whole time. As things started to open up more I was invited to support two local bands at Three Wise Monkeys here in Colchester.
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'More punk than refrained' - Paper Champion
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Next step was to get some stuff recorded. To date I have released two EP's and a couple of singles. I worked with the now defunct, Elephant Studios in Braintree on 'The Elephant Studios Demos'. Liam Hooker of lhaudio on Lust and Intrigue and Next Year/Soul Food. My latest EP, Always was self recorded.
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Where I could I was submitting my music to the radio and had play on Actual Radio, CCR (Chelmsford Community Radio) and Cambridge 105. I was also invited for an interview and to play live on CCR which was a great experience! Huge thanks to Paul Dupree for this.
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As my mental health has improved slightly I have found myself branching out a little and I find that encouraging as there was a time when I felt as though I may get stuck in one place and be unable to expand from there. I continue to play live wherever possible and have managed to bag some fantastic support slots as well as a headline slot at Queen Street Brewhouse for a Holy Island Records showcase.
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Recently I found out that a personal hero of mine, Frank Turner, had picked up on my song Next Year and added it to his Spotify playlist 'One Foot Before The Other'. a curated and considered list of artists from small local up to internationally recognised.
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Moving forward I am looking to play more shows and build my following further. I am also hoping to create some merch to help fund things and also record a new EP which will be titled 'Never' and will be a much larger affair with full band arrangements as a nice contrast to the stripped back, low-fi vibes of 'Always'.
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Watch this space!
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